CONTENTS

1100:CYPPRESS:01

Nicosia, Aug 13 (CNA) -- Algerian President Liamine Zeroual has assured his
country will continue to support Cyprus' sovereignty and territorial
integrity.

Receiving the credentials of new Cyprus ambassador to Algeria, Andreas
Scarparis, on Monday, the Algerian President described the Cyprus problem
as complex.

According to an official announcement issued here today, he also said
his country considers the Cyprus government's positions on the Cyprus
question as correct and its demands legitimate.

Zeroual assured Algeria will continue to support a just settlement to
the Cyprus problem, based on UN resolutions.

Describing relations between the two countries as friendly, he said
cooperation in the political field is at a very high level but there is
space for the further development of relations in other fields.

Zeroual thanked Scarparis for Cyprus' position against terrorism and
Nicosia's support to the Algerian government's efforts to safeguard human
rights in the country.

During his stay in Algiers, Scarparis met with officials with whom he
discussed the Cyprus problem and bilateral relations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and
occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1130:CYPPRESS:02

Nicosia, Aug 13 (CNA) -- There has been an increase in both goods from
European Union countries supplied to Cyprus, as well as Cyprus exports to
these countries, according to the January-May 1998 Foreign Trade
Statistics.

Total imports, covering goods for home consumption and imports in
bonded warehouses, totaled 783,2 million Cyprus pounds (one pound is about
two US dollars) in this period, compared with 765,7 m. pounds in the same
period of the previous year.

Total exports were 270 m. pounds in relation to 256,1 m. pounds in
1997.

"As a result of the above developments the trade deficit totalled for
513,1 m. pounds compared to 509,6 m. pounds in January-May 1997," an
official information bulletin says.

It adds that the EU countries supplied Cyprus with goods valued at 409,
1 m. pounds or 52,2 per cent of total imports as compared with 367,9 m.
pounds or 48,1 per cent in January-May 1997.

The EU countries absorbed 59,3 per cent or 64,2 m. pounds of Cyprus
domestic exports (excluding shipstores), followed by the Arab countries
with a share of 22,5 per cent or 24,4 m. pounds.

The corresponding shares for EU and Arab countries for January-May 1997
were 53 per cent and 25,4 per cent, respectively.

CNA MA/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1340:CYPPRESS:03

Nicosia, Aug 13 (CNA) -- Water reserves in the island's dams are
rapidly decreasing with fears that many of them will be empty by the end of
the year, if there is no rainfall.

Figures depict a bleak picture of what has happened and what is to be
expected in the following months.

According to today's figures, a total of 26.900.000 cubic metres of
water remain in the island's dams, representing 10 per cent of their total
capacity.

The quantity of water in the dams for last year's corresponding period
was 44.100.000 cubic metres of water, representing 16,4 per cent of the
total capacity.

Kouris, the island's largest dam, contains only 5,8 million cubic
metres of water, representing 5,1 per cent of its total capacity.

The Asprokremmos dam has 12,6 million cubic metres of water,
representing 24 per cent of its total capacity, while the Evretou dam has 3,
6 million cubic metres of water, representing 15,1 per cent of its total
capacity.

Water Development Department Acting Director, Christos Markoulis, told
CNA that the recent heat wave, which plagued Cyprus, did not actually
contribute to the decrease in the island's dams.

Markoulis said the heat wave did not last long therefore it did not
result in great evaporation of the water reserves.

Last week, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister,
Costas Themistocleous, announced that the government had decided a number
of measures to tackle the water shortage, including the introduction of
mobile desalination plants.

He said 1999 would be one of the most difficult years because water
supplies would run out completely by the end of the year and the second
desalination plant would not be ready.

Cyprus has one desalination plant in Dhekelia, on the southeastern
coast. A second one is expected to be completed after the year 2000.

According to statistics, last time Cyprus' dams had reached tragic
levels was during the year 1990-1991.

However, heavy rainfall during December 1991 virtually saved the island
after a flow of 40 million cubic metres of water in the dams.